Receiving station



Dace 149 19290 c, FULLER 11 738 559 RECEIVING STATION Filed April 14, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet l Ema m 192% E. FULLER fi fi RECEIVING STATION Filed April A. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 10, 1929, c. E. FULLER L73859 RECEIVING STATION Filed April 14, 1 928 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 fji @w W, @296 Q E. FULLER RECEIVING STATION 6 Sheets-$heet Filed April 14, l923 Dec. 10, 1929. c. E. FULLER RECEIVING STATION 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 14. 1928 ///ZW AL 'MW l atented Dec. 10, 1929 NITED s'r-A'ra's PATENT OFFICE GLAUZD E. FULLER,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y ASSIGNORXPO NEW'YORK BRICK HANDLING CORPORATION OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK Application filed April 14,

My present invention relates to the manu- In the manufacture of brick, and particularly the manufacture of brick by. the soft mud process, where the bricks are formed 1n molds and afterwards placed on a pallet and subjected to a drying operation before belng built into a kiln for burning, it is important to devise economical means for collecting the pallets of brick into groups before depositing the same in the drier. The open top drier has been found to be the most economical 1n 5 use in drying bricks under these conditions.

' In connection with the operation of such a drier I have found it desirable and economical to arrange the pallets of brick in series, consisting of a plurality of layers of predetermined size. In order to collect the pallets of brick in predetermined sized layers, I may employ any desired means. 7

I am enabled'to arrange the pallets of an oncoming stream of pallets into groups of any predetermined size, and with my device I arrange these groups of pallets into a serles of predetermined layers, and then remove such predetermined plurality of layers simultaneously from the receiving apparatus and prior to the depositing thereof in the open top drier.

The object of my invention, therefore, is an improved receiving station.

Another object of .my invention is an improved mechanism for collecting groups of pallets of predetermined size into a series consisting of a plurality of layers.

Other objects and novel features of the construction and arrangement of parts comprising the device will 'appear -as the description 1928. Serial No. 270,083.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on the lin 55;of Fig. 2; I Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 but showing the parts in another position;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 7.

eferring to the drawings, 10 designates a base, on the upper face and on each end of which are mounted. rectangular frameworks 11, these frameworks being tied together by cross bars 12, 13, 14 and 15. Associated with each of the rectangular frames 11 and mounted on the cross bars 13 are bearing'blocks 16, there being three of such bearing blocks for each of the rectangular frames 11, and which three form a set which are in alinement with each other, and rotatably mounted in each set is a shaft 17. In each framework 11 and at the lower end thereof, are formed guideways 18, and in .each of such guideways .is slidably mounted a bearin 19, a screw 20 being ut1- lized to move the caring members 19 in the guideways. In each pair of bearing members 19 is rotatably mounted a shaft 21, which shaft is arranged parallel to and directly beneath the associated shaft 17 at the top of each framework 11. Secured to each of the shafts 17 and 21, are sprocket wheels 22, and over such sprocket wheels 22 run endless conveyor chains 23. There are two of these conveyor chains 23 for each of the rectangular frameworks 11 and the pairs of chains 23 are connected together by angle irons 24. Built out from the rectangular frameworks 11 and forming a joining member therefor, is a platform 25 on which is mounted a motor 26, connected through clutch 27 to a worm and worm wheel drive 28. The worm and worm wheel drive rotates a gear 29. On the cross bars 12 are arranged bearing blocks 30 and in the bearing blocks 30 are rotatably mounted shafts 31, such shafts being arranged par and pitch and one of them meshing with the gear 29 above referred to. The motor 26, therefore, operates to rotate the shafts 31 in opposite directions and at the same rate of s eed. Formed on the shafts 31, intermediate the ends thereof, are cranks 33, and rotatably mounted on'such cranks are connecting rods 34. The ends of the connecting rods 34 are pivotally attached to the outer tree end of levers 35 that are rotatably mounted on the shafts 17. Pivotally mounted on each of the levers 35 intermediate the ends thereof, is a pawl 36 which is weighted by means of a weight 37 so as to continually ur e the pawl 36 inward toward the shaft 17, as cTearly shown in Fig. 4.- Secured to each of the shafts 17 is a ratchet38 and the pawl 36 is adapted to engage with such ratchet 38 so as to cause an intermittent rotation of the shaft 17 in a manner to cause an intermittent upward movement of the inner or opposlng reaches of the endless conveyor chains 23. Mounted on an angle iron 39 connecting the cross bars 13 is a shaft'40 on which is rotatably mounted a holding pawl 41 and a spring 42 secured to the angle iron 39, such spring con- "stantly urging the pawl 41 into engagement with the ratchet 38 and acting as a means to prevent retrograde movement of such ratchets.

Associated with the endless conveyor chains 23 so as to deliver pallets 43 'ofbrick 44to opposed cross bars 23 is an endless conveyor 45 mounted on suitable framework 46 and driven through suitable gearing from a motor 47, a magnetic clutch 48 and brake 49 bern g interposed between the motor 47 and driving mechanism for the endless conveyor. Associated with the wiring mechanism for the motor 47 is a switch mechanism 50 and associated with the clutch 27 interposed between the motor 26 and worm wheel mechanism 28, which is also a magnetic clutch, is a switch mechanism 51. Associated with the delivery end of the conveyor is a switch arm 52 and associated with the delivery end of such conveyor 45 is a switch arm 53. The switch arm 53 closes a circuit in either of lts extreme positions, while the switch arm 52 closes a circuit only in one of its extreme positions. If we assume that the groups of pallets 43 with the brick 44 thereon is just coming into engagement with the switch arm 52, then a circuit to operate the magnetic clutch 48 and magnetic brake 49 will be closed as follows:

65 from source of power 54, conductor 55, switch arm 53, conductor 56, switch arm 52, conductor 57, energizing winding 58 of the switch 50, conductor 59, conductor 60 and back to the source of power 54. This will cause an attraction of the armature 61 of the switch 50 and the closing of the energizing circuit direct for the magnetic clutch 48 and magnetic brake 49, from source of power 54, conductor 55, conductor 62, contacts 63, 64 and armature 65 61, and conductor 65 through the magnetic breaking the circuit originally closed there-- 7 through. The attraction of the armature 61 of the switch 50, however, closes a holding magnetic clutch 48 and magnetic brake 49 as follows:' Source of power 54, conductor 55, switch arm 53, conductor 56, conductor 67, contacts 68 and 69 and the armature 61, energizing winding 58 of the switch 50, conductor 59, conductor 60, and back to source of power 54. This holding circuit will be maintained and the clutch 48 kept in operation until the group of pallets 43 have moved into proper association. withthe' opposed pair of angle irons 23, at which time the switch arm 53 will be thrown to its other extreme position, breaking connection between the conductors 55 and 56, thereby allowing the holding circuit for the energizing coil 58 of the switch 50 to be broken and breakin the energizing circuit for the clutch and brake at the contacts 53 and 64. Immediately this circuit'is broken, the magnetic clutch will be brought into play and will incidentally stop the progress of the conveyor 45. When the switch arm 53 broke the connection between the conductors 55 and 56, it immediately closed the connection between the conductors 55 and 7 0, such conductors 70 being connected to energizing windings 71 of the switch 51 and thence by conductor 72 to a limit switch 73 arranged at the top end of the endless conveyors 23, and thence by conductors 74 to circuit to retain the energizing circuit for the conductor 60, and to the source of power 54.

The closing of this circuit closes an energization of the winding 71 of the switch 51 and a drawin up of its armature 75. The drawing up of t e armature 75 completed a holding circuit for the winding 71 as follows source of power 54, conductor 55, conductor 76, contacts 77 and 78, armature 75. and energizing winding 71 conductors 72, limit switch 73, conductors 74, conductor 60 and back to the source of power 54. Also a circuit is closed from source of power 54, conductor 55, conductor 79, magnetic clutch 77, conductor 80, contacts 81 and 82 and the armature 75, conductor 83, conductor 60 and back to the source of power 54. This energization of the magnetic clutch 54 connects the motor 26 to the worm and worm wheel drive 28 and causes a rotation of the shafts 31 in opposite directions through one complete revolution and causes a the shafts 31 The energizin pair-of angle irons 23,

through the space of one tooth of the ratchet 38,th1s being suflicient to move theopposed on which now rests one of the pallets 43, upward a suflicient distance to bring the next succeeding opposed pair of angle 'rons-23 into association with the delivery end of the endless conve .or 45. Forming part of the limit switch 3 1s a lvoted lever 84-, which controls the switch. 3 and has a roller 85 at its free end that is adapted to be engaged by a cam 86 secured to one of circuit for the magnetic clutch '27 and the olding circuit for the switch 51, having been closed, such magnetic clutch 27 will remain closed until the energiz'ing'circuit for the wlnding 71 1s broken by the engagement of the lever 84 with the cam 86. It is understood, of course, that as soon as the inner reaches of the endless conveyor chains 23 have started upwardand the pallets 43 moved out of engagement with the arm 53, that such switch will return toits former position, or in position to again close a brake point in the circuit for the clutch 48 and brake 49 associated with the endless conveyor 45. The above sequence of operations will be continued until all of the angle irons 24 on the inner reaches of the endless conveyor chains 23 are filled with loaded pallets 43.

On the cross frame member 14 and 15, are

' arranged pairs of bearings 87, in which pairs of bearings are rotatably mounted shafts 88.

Secured to the cross frame members 15 are pairs of bearings 89 and in such bearings.

, are rotatably mounted shafts '90. On the shafts 88 and 90 are pairs of alined sprockets 91 and over such alined sprockets run endless conveyor chains 92, such endless conveyor chains being provided at intervals with cross bars 93 of angle iron or other suitable devices. The inner reaches of the pairs of endless conveyor chains 92 are located considerably inside the limits of the inner reaches of the endless conveyor chains 23, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Also secured to each of the shafts 90 is a sprocket 94 which is in alinementwith a corresponding sprocket 95 secured to the shafts 17. and over the aligned sprockets 94 and 95 run sprocket chains 96 and by means of which intermittent rotary motion is transmitted to the shafts 88 and 89 by the shafts 17 and, therefore, by means of which intermittent step-by-step upward movement of the inner reaches of the endless conveyor chains 92 is obtained. The movement of the conveyor chains 92 is in synchronism With the movement of the endless conveyor chains 23. Pivotally mounted on the cross frame 14 is a Weighted member 108 provided with a rotatably mounted sprocket 109 that engages with the sprocket chain 96 and acts as a tension member therefor.

The mechanism above described is preferably located within a shed or other structure and within such shed is located a traveling crane 98 provlded with wheels 99 that run on tracks 100 suitably supported and as in the -shaped mem strengthening bars or struts 113. Secured to the top end'of the members 111 and spaced apart, but arranged parallel to each other, are 0 members 114, these memlaterally .extendin bers being provided at their outer free end with shackles 115, while the upper end of the members 111, are provided with shackles 116. The shackles 115, 116 act as means for attaching the framework tothe four-point suspension means of the crane above described. Rotatably mounted on stub shafts 117, secured to the members 114, are rollers 118 and these rollers are adapted to engage with angle irons 119 secured to a skeleton platform 120 built onto the rectangular frameworks 11 on the" side thereof remote from the driving mechanism associated with the motor 26. The endless conveyor chains 92 are so timed with relation'to the endless conveyor chains 23 that the lowermost opposing angle irons 93 are brought into alinement with the angle iron tracks 119 at a time when the inner reaches of the endless conveyor chains 23 are filled with pallets 43 of brick 44 and at which time it is obvious that the rectangular frame 111, together with the laterally extending pieces 114, may be moved into the limits of the frame members 11, or from the position shown in Fig. 7 in dot and dash-lines, to the position shown in full lines in said figure. Secured to the members 111 laterally extending therefrom and arranged parallel to each other, are lifting fingers 122, there being a pair of each of such lifting fingers 122 in horizontal alinement with each other, as there are pairs of opposed angle iron members 124, and the distance apart of the lifting fingers 122 is equal to thg distanceapart of the angle irons 24.

If the sequence of operations above described have been repeated until the space between the inner reaches of the endless con-.

wheels 99 on such members 114 enga 'ng with the angle irons or tracks 119, and a er passing off the tracks 119, engaging with the angle irons 93 on the endless conveyor chains '92, which, as has been described above, are

the device.

brought into alinement with the tracks 119 at this particular point in the operation of By referring now to Fig. '9, it will be noted that while the pallets 43 rest on the angle irons 2 1, that the lifting fingers 122 are a considerable distance below the bottom face of such pallets, and as the sequence of operations above described is continued, the-endless conveyor chains 92'will move upward, lifting the entire mechanism, comprised of the frame members 111, lifting fingers'122 and members 114, and the fin rs 122 will engage with the bottom face of t e pallets 43, as clearly shown in Fig. 10, whereupon, the operator of the crane will operate the crane 98 so as to move the now-loaded carrier 111 from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 7 to the position shown in dotted lines in such figure, where it will be obvious that the load of pallets .43 with the load of bricks 44 thereon, are moved from the collecting device above described. The operator may now move'the crane to any partof the machine or to any other part of the works desired, where the load of bricks may be placed into a drier direct or into a collecting station that may afterward be placed in the drier.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a device ofthe kind described, the

combination of a pair of endless conveyors,

having the inner reaches thereof arranged parallel to but spaced apart from each other, and lying in substantially vertical planes, means secured to said endless conveyors for supporting pallets of brick in substantially ing a plurality of articles in succession to the I collecting device, and automatic controlling means for the feeding device and collecting device operated by engagement of the articles to be fed.

' 4. In an improved receivingstation, the

combination of means for receiving a plural .ity of palletscarrying articles to be dried and arranging the same in vertical tiers, means for movlng the receiving device intermittently by a step-by-step movement as pallets are fed thereto, a feedmg device for feeding the pallets to the receiving device, said feed- CLAUD E. FULLER.

horizontal planes, operating means for said endless conveyors for operating the same intermittently by a step-by-step movement, and a second pair of endless conveyors arranged above the first said pair and having the inner reaches thereof operable in the same direction and at the same speed and in synchronism with the first said pair, whereby the unloading of the palletsfrom the endless conveyors is facilitated. I

2. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a pair of endless conveyors having the inner reaches thereof arranged parallel to, but spaced apart from each other, and lying in substantially vertical planes, a horizontal conveyor associated with said air of endless conveyors and having its deivery end located adjacent to the lower end of the upper reach of said pair of conveyors, controlling means for all of said conveyors, said controlling means being operable by the movement of the pallets of brick to throw into operation either the endless conveyor or the pair of endless conveyors.

3. In a receiving station, the combination of a collecting device, means for intermittently feeding the collecting device by a stepby-step movement, a feeding device for feed- 

